Maze game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus of the type having a base with a maze-like path of travel formed therein for traversal by a rollable playing piece. The game is characterized by the provision of an eccentrically acting playing piece for use therewith.

United States Patent [191 Barlow July 24, 1973 MAZE GAME APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago,

Ill.

22 Filed: Dec. 4, 1910 211 Appl. No.: 95,007

[52] US. Cl 273/113, 273/110, 273/128 A [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/14 [58] Field of Search 273/109, 110, 112,

273/117,ll3,1l6,108,123,128, 86 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,462,148 8/1969 Fors 273/86 C X 939,050 11/1909 Matthews 273/109 1,982,633 12/1934 3,423,872 l/1969 1,147,173 7/1915 Johnson 273/110 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT A game apparatus of the type having a base with a maze-like path of travel formed therein for traversal by a rollable playing piece. The game is characterized by the provision of an eccentrically acting playing piece for use therewith.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUJULMQH Illll INVENTO R 6020mm. EALQUW BY ww fiwhgmm MW ATTORN EYS limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

1 MAZE GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field methods the Invention This invention relates to game devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

There are many forms of games wherein there is provided a maze-like path of travel and a playing piece for traversing through the maze-like path of travel. Usually the playing piece is in the form of a rollable element such as a ball. Some forms of these games include a universally tiltable planar surface mounted within a boxlike frame with the surface being moved by manipulation of transversely oriented control rods. Other forms of these games may be extremely simple, being little more than an enclosed hand-held box with movement of the the playing piece accomplished by manipulating the hand-held box. 7

Games of this type are popular in that they are easily understood and relatively easily manipulated. There is. a continuing desire to provide improved where of such games, and this invention is directed toward meeting that need and desire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the the of an improved tilting action maze-type game.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes a base comprised of a plurality of concentrically related rings and interconnecting radial webs defining a maze-like path of travel leading to the center of the base. The base center includes value depending hollow handle, for holding the base to manipulate the same, as well as receiving a successfully traversed rollable playing element. The playing element provided for use with the game is of an eccentrically acting type to add to the unpredictability of the movement of the playing piece through its maze-like path of travel. v

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus of this invention;

" FIG: fisa top plan view of the game apparatus of this invention; 33 of FIG. 2;.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the line 3-3 )/2; at

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the line F!.. .:....T mmm=u... I

4-4 of FIG. 3; and FIG 5 is a section view through the playing element While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodi ment R therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this invention includes a base element generally indicated 12, which forms the maze-like member of this invention. The base includes a plurality of concentrically related rings l4, l6 and 18 having upstanding flange or wall portions 14a, 16a and 18a,

respectively. Concentric annular troughs 14b, 16b and 18bare connected to and lie between rings l4, l6, l8 and center portion 20. Center portion 20 includes an upstanding wall or flange 20a defining, to the radial exterior thereof, another concentric ring portion 22'and an interior portion 24 to the radial interior of wall or flange 20a.

Interior portion 24 includes a generally centrally located opening 26 below which handle portion 28 depends. Handle portion 28 has a hollow interior 30 for receiving a successfully mainpulated playing element.

The base 12 further includes a plurality of radial bridges 32, 34 and 36 which span troughs 14b, 16b and 18b, respectively. Bridges 32, 34 and 36 are aligned with openings 44, 46 and 48 in each flange 14a, 16a and 18a, respectively, and an opening 50 is provided in flange 20a so that the several aforementioned openings and bridges, in combination with the concentric rings, define a maze-like path of travel to'the center opening 26.

The center opening 26 has a cap or cover 52 there- Over, with the cap or cover'52 being pivotally mounted to the handle 28 by means of pivot pin 54 extending through opposed aligned openings 54a and 54b in .the handle 28. A measuring 56 depends from the pivot 54 to normally maintain the cap or cover 52 in a closed relationship with respect to the opening 26.

A-playing piece 58 is provided forum with the game of this invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the playing piece is capsule-like in configuration having rounded ends and a hollow interior 60. A weighted member or ball 62 is positioned in the interior andis free to rollwithin the interior 60 of playing piece 58. By means of such construction the playing piece 58 is afforded an eccentric action responsive to tilting or rolling thereof so as to lend unpredictability of the direction and rate of movement.

The outer ring 14 is provided with anenlargement 64 defining a starting area which is bounded by an upstanding flange or fence 66. To play the game a, participant places the playingpiece 58 on the starting area 64 and, by means of grasping trial 28, attempts to manipulate the base 12 so as to guide the playing' piece 58 through the maze-like path of travel for an attempted successful completion by means of guiding the playing piece 58 onto movable cap 52 so that it will fall into the interior 30 of handle 28.

The base 12 may be provided with score indicia on the several rings thereof indicating both circumferential and radial progress relative to the maze-like path of travel. For example, score indicia 68 may be provided on ring 14. Ring 16 may be provided with score indicia 70, 70a and 70b, and ring 18 may be further provided with score indicia 72 and 72a. Ring area 20 may include score indicia 74, 74a, and 74b. Thecenter section 20 may include the score indicia-'76 on the cap 52 indicating the highest score for successful completion of the traversal of the rolling element through the maze-like path of travel.

In use, the playing piece 58 may advance in both an end-over-end fashion as well as rolling about its horizontal axis. This lends difficulty to successful play of e the game. The end-over-end movement of the playing 14, it may fall from the base 12. When the playing piece is progressing along one of the inner rings, such as 16 or 18, it may fall into one of the troughs, such as 14b or 16b. in addition, the openings 44, 46 and 48 are narrower than the longitudinal extent of the playing piece 58 so that the playing piece must transverse one of the bridges 32, 34 or 36 in and end-over-end fashion. During the execution of this maneuver, the playing piece may also easily fall from one of the bridges and into one of the bridges and into one of the troughs.

The maze-type game of this invention is one which is simple to manipulate by grasping the depending handle 28 and tilting the base 12 by a swiveling wrist action. The circular and radial path of travel defined by the maze together with the provision of an eccentrically acting elongate playing element give a unique and interesting action to the game which is captivating to the participant although the manipulation of the apparatus is simply executed.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising: a rollable playing piece; and a game board having a playing piece path of travel comprising a plurality of generally annular, concentric, spaced apart rings having pairs of edges. with the rings being joined by radial path segments spanning the spaces between the rings, and wherein upstanding walls are positioned on one edge of each ring between each ring and the next innermost space between the rings.

7 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the playing piece is a hollow elongated member having rounded ends and a weighted ball which is loosely disposed therewithin.

I8 i l I k 

1. A game apparatus comprising: a rollable playing piece; and a game board having a playing piece path of travel comprising a plurality of generally annular, concentric, spaced apart rings having pairs of edges, with the rings being joined by radial path segments spanning the spaces between the rings, and wherein upstanding walls are positioned on one edge of each ring between each ring and the next innermost space between the rings.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the playing piece is a hollow elongated member having rounded ends and a weighted ball which is loosely disposed therewithin. 